Pipe-wrench.



No. 827,873. PATENTED, AUG. 7, 1906.

. J. W. LIND.

PIPB'WRENGH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3, 1905.

locked by a dog or automatic trip.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. LIND, OF DORGHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO JOHN J. MORRIS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PIPE-WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 7, 1906,.

Application filed August 3, 1905. Serial No. 272,523.

1'0 a w/wm it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN W. LIND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dorchester, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Pipe-Wrenches, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like numerals on the drawings representing like parts.

My inventionis a pipe-wrench, and has for its object the provision of automatic means for readily permitting the aws of the wrench to adjust themselves to any size of pipe and also means for permitting the ready assembling of the parts. I

My wrench relates to that kind of pipe- Wrenches in which the handles cross each other and interlock, being provided at their outer ends with opposed jaws, slidingly arranged with relation to each other, so asI to be rovide a releasing device solocated as to di s en gage the dog only when the jaws are in an abnormal position, thereby insuring that the jaws will remain locked in operative position under all normal conditions of use; but when it is desired to unlock them so as to adjust them to a larger pipe they are quickly moved to the required abnormal position, (entirely closed, as herein shown,) whereupon the members are rendered free to slide open to the desired extent. One of the wrench members is provided with an enlarged slot or opening through which the other member can be readily inserted before putting the handle in place,whereby the parts are quickly and conveniently assembled.

Further constructional details of my invention and advantages thereof will be pointed out in the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which I have shown a preferred embodiment of'my invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, partly broken away, showing my improved wrench in operative position. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof. Fig. 3 shows in side elevation the manner in which the parts are assembled, and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modified construction.

The stationary jaw member has a longitudinal slot 1 in its shank extending from the jaw 2 to the handle end 3, as indicated by dotted lines at 4 5, the rear end of said slot 1 being enlarged at 6, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. The movable jaw 7 has an integral shank 8, flattened to fit properly in the slot 1, apertured at 9 to receive a transverse stud or-lug 10 for spanning the back of the shank of the stationary jaw member when the parts are assembled, as shown in Fig, 1. At the rear end of the shank 8 is a tang 11 for receiving a suitable wooden or other handle 12 in usual manner. The stationary jaw and shank are provided with teeth 13 1 1, and cooperating with the latter is a dog 15, pivoted at 16 to the movable jaw and normally held in contact with the teeth 14 by a spring 17. A tripping-stop 18 is provided between the shank 8 and the dog 15, being herein shown as projecting from the shank to engage said dog. This stop or trip is carefully filed down or adjusted to the exact height, so as not to interfere in any way with the dog 15 until the handles 3 and 12 are brought close together, whereupon said stop operates to disengage the dog 15 from the teeth 14, so as to permit the movable member of the wrench to slide freely lengthwise of the stationary member. I have found in practice that this construction is readily understood by workmen and operates perfectly, as there is no liability of the parts being brought accidentally into locking position when in use, and hence the wrench is always looked firmly when it should be locked, and yet is readily unlocked when not in use. It is obvious that the stop 18 may be located otherwise than is herein shown, the idea being to provide means which will automatically trip the dog when the parts of the wrench are moved-into an abnormal position not properly assumed when in ordinary use.

By having the dog located at the precise point shown nearly all the strain of the wrench against a pipe is brought longitudinally of said dog, so that a light pin 10 is sufficient and the general construction may be quite light.

The strain of the wrench is brought mainly on the flattened shanks of the two members and on the handle 12, and because of the normally separated position of the handles 3 and 12 when in use, as shown in Fig. 1, a strong firm han'dhold is provided, so that great power can be transmitted by the grip on the handle 12.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a convenient form of my invention adapted more espeically to small wrenches, the movable member being shown as terminating at its shank end simply in a loop 19, so that it is left to adjust itself automatically upon bein hooked over a pipe. This is convenient an preferable in many situations, although for general use and heavy constructions the form shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is employed. I

My invention enables a broken part to be replaced readily, as it is unnecessary to cut out any rivets or remove any fixed parts.

In assembling the wrench the movable member is simply inserted tang-end foremost through the opening 6 until the aperture 9 is raised behind the back of the shank 8, whereupon a pin 10 is inserted in the opening 9 and a handle 12 is placed on the tang, and the wrench is complete.

I am aware that many changes may be resorted to in constructional details, and accordin ly I wish it understood that I am not limited to the precise construction herein shown.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is v 1. In a pipe-wrench, opposite jaw-carrying members, one of said members having a straight longitudinal slot provided at its rear end with a lateral enlargement for receiving the other member in assembling the wrench, and the other member occupying said slot and being capable of insertion through said enlargement in assembling the wrench.

2. In a pipe-wrench, opposite jaw-carryin members, one of said members having a straight longitudinal slot provided with an enlargement and the other member occupying said slot and being capable of insertion through said opening in assembling the wrench, teeth along the front edge of the slotted member, a dog on the other member to engage said teeth, and means adjacent the jaw end of said dog-carrying member for engaging the back of the slotted member opposite said teeth.

3. A pipe-wrench, comprising opposite jaw-carrying members whose shanks cross each other, adjusting means for locking said members in normal operative position, and automatic tripping means for tripping said. adjusting means and unlocking said members when the latter are moved into abnormal position.

' 4. A pipe-wrench, comprising opposite.

jaw-carrying members whose shanks cross each other, adjusting means for locking said ber, and a stop operating between said mov.

able member and said dog for automatically releasing the latter when the wrench is in closed position with said two members brought together.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN W. LIND Witnesses:

GEO. H. MAXWELL M. A. JoNEs. 

